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Toronto Sun
3 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
LILLEY: Olivia Chow has to go but John Tory shouldn't replace her
There is a long list of reasons that John Tory shouldn't be Toronto's mayor again and it all goes back to his track record. Get the latest from Brian Lilley straight to your inbox John Tory is pictured in the mayor's second-floor office at City Hall on Dec. 21, 2022. Photo by Ernest Doroszuk / Toronto Sun Files Olivia Chow needs to be replaced as mayor of Toronto, but John Tory is not the solution the city needs. The former mayor hasn't ruled out running again; he has a team at the ready to run his campaign — and plenty of backers. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account What the people of Toronto need to realize is that John Tory is the root of many of the problems facing Toronto, and that won't change if he gets a fourth term. It's true, problems like crime, homelessness, encampments, open drugs use, traffic, bike lanes and more have all gotten worse under Olivia Chow. The problem is that since all of these issues were in decline under Tory, you can't trust the guy who created the problem, or problems, to be the one to fix it. Between 2014 when Tory was first elected and 2023 when he left office, the number of major crimes documented by Toronto Police Service increased annually from 32,461 to 49,576. That's a 53% increase in crimes such as assault, auto theft, homicide, sexual assault, and breaking and entering. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Those numbers went higher under Chow in 2024, but the trendline started under Tory. In 2014, Toronto's homeless shelters put up just over 4,000 people and were at capacity. Now, the system regularly houses close to 10,000 people a night , and few are moved successfully to permanent housing. Recommended video More than doubling shelter capacity while the problem gets worse isn't a sign of success for Tory or Chow. Over the last decade under Tory and Chow, housing has become far less affordable, and part of that is the increase in development charges. In 2014, the development charges on a one-bedroom apartment were $10,429 but now sit at $54,801 while a single-family home has seen development charges increase from $24,298 to $143,409 . This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. If those costs had only kept pace with inflation, they would be sitting at $13,611 and $31,711, respectively. Instead, the city jacked up development charges, not to mention all the other fees, and increased the cost of building new housing dramatically. Meanwhile, over the past four years — under both Tory and Chow — property taxes have increased by just shy of 30%. Over the last decade, the median price of a single-family home in Toronto has gone from just over $500,000 to more than $1.25 million. The median price of a condo apartment in that time now sits at $600,000 compared to just over $350,000 in 2014. The dramatic increase in housing prices, development charges and taxes started under John Tory and continued under Olivia Chow. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Read More Neither one of them deserves to be rewarded for this by giving either one of them another term as mayor. The move to put Toronto at the forefront of bad drug policy with ever expanding injection and consumption sites, the push for so-called safe-supply — and even t he push to decriminalize all hard drugs — started under Tory. Those programs were implemented with the promise that they would curb overdose deaths and help people get treatment; they have done neither. We had 460 emergency room visits due to opioid overdoses in 2014 and 2,660 in 2023. We went from 131 opioid overdose death in Toronto to 529 over that same time period . This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Tory was the man who approved the massive expansion of bike lanes into areas they have no business being placed. He was also in charge when the city started to look dirty as garbage wasn't picked up. 'You should go see Los Angeles,' Tory said to me once after complaining about how dirty the city looked. I had seen Los Angeles; it's not a look we want to replicate. Also, saying well it's bad here, but it's worse elsewhere isn't leadership in any way shape or form. 'It will be different this time,' a backer of Tory for mayor has said again and again. I don't see how. Tory and Chow share many — not all but many — of the same disastrous policies. The best that could be argued is that he isn't quite as radical and is a better manager. Is that a reason to put him back in charge? Toronto needs new and fresh leadership that will challenge the system, reform how City Hall operates, who will control costs and taxes and make Toronto a city that works again. Who that leader is, I don't know. But it isn't John Tory. Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs Canada Toronto & GTA Columnists
CTV News
4 days ago
- CTV News
Worker dies following industrial accident in North York, police say
Toronto Police Service cruisers are seen in this image. (Tom Podolec) A worker has died following an industrial accident in North York on Monday morning, police say. Paramedics said they were called to the area of Weston Road and Fenmar Drive, near Finch Avenue West, shortly before 8:30 a.m. following reports of a person who was trapped. Police tell CP24 that early reports 'indicate a concrete slab fell on a worker at the site.' The Ministry of Labour confirmed it has assigned an inspector to investigate the incident. 'As the investigatoin is ongoing, no further details can be shared at this time,' the ministry's statement reads.
CTV News
6 days ago
- CTV News
5 suspects wanted in Toronto distraction thefts part of organized group, police say
The Toronto Police Service have issued a news release warning the public to beware of criminals lurking around ATM's attempting to steal your bank card. The Toronto Police Service have issued a news release warning the public to beware of criminals lurking around ATM's attempting to distract you and steal your bank card. CTV's Pat Foran reports. Five suspects wanted in connection with distraction thefts that targeted seniors in Toronto are believed to be part of one organized group, police say. On Thursday, the Toronto Police Service (TPS) issued a news release warning the public to beware of criminals lurking around ATMs attempting to distract you and steal your bank card. They released photos of the suspects, who are three men and two women aged between 30 and 50 years old. Theft suspects Police say five suspects are wanted in multiple distraction theft and fraud investigations. (Toronto Police Service) Police said between October 2024 and February of this year, there were five reports of distraction thefts involving the same suspects. 'It's the same faces that are captured on camera, so we know it is one organized group, and it's not going to stop. It's not a random event, it's planned,' said Det. David Coffey with the TPS Fraud Unit. In each case, the suspects allegedly approached elderly people while they were using a bank machine. The suspects would distract the victims, steal their bank cards, and then use the stolen cards to withdraw funds from the victims' accounts. Police are advising the public that it's not just seniors who should take extra precautions when using bank machines. To avoid ATM distraction thefts, police advise residents to be aware of their surroundings, not to let anyone distract them and to avoid using an ATM if they feel unsafe. It's also advised to leave with your card and always shield your PIN during a transaction. Police said criminals will often stand behind the victim to 'shoulder surf' to see the PIN being entered, and once they have it, that's when the distraction begins. 'Once they get your PIN, they may fall to the ground and pretend they are injured, or they may put money on the ground and say you dropped it. That's when they distract you, and someone swoops around and gets your card,' said Coffey. 'Once they have your card and PIN, they can get your money.' Investigators also told CTV News you should remain cautious if someone appears to be a helpful stranger or a good Samaritan. Anyone recognizing the suspects is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers anonymously. Most ATMs have cameras, so when these types of crimes occur, they are usually caught on video. If you fall victim to a theft like this, contact your bank and the police right away.
CTV News
6 days ago
- CTV News
Grenade-like object ‘deemed safe' after police temporarily shut down roads near Toronto park
A Toronto Police Service logo patch is shown in Toronto, on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby A brief grenade scare temporarily shut down part of Toronto's downtown core Saturday morning, but police now confirm the suspicious object is safe. Toronto police say they responded at around 8:45 a.m. to Harold Town Park, near Church and Yonge Streets, after someone reported seeing what appeared to be an explosive. The area was quickly closed off as the Explosive Disposal Unit was called in to assess the object. However, shortly after 10 a.m., in a post to social media, police said the item no longer posed a threat and that the scene has been cleared. All roads have since reopened. No injuries were reported.
CTV News
6 days ago
- CTV News
Grenade-like object found in downtown Toronto park prompts road closures
A Toronto Police Service logo patch is shown in Toronto, on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby Toronto police are investigating after they say reports of a possible grenade was spotted in a public park Saturday morning. In a post to social media, officials say officers responded at around 8:45 a.m. to Harold Town Park, near Church and Yonge Streets. Police say the Explosive Disposal Unit was called in to investigate and as a precaution, Church Street has been shut down in both directions between Park Road and Yonge Street. There is no word yet on whether the object was confirmed to be dangerous but an investigation is ongoing. This is a developing news story, more details to come...
